Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Celtic Illumination, part five, Latex, drugs and rock & roll

There is certainly a steep learning curve in the dangerous occupation of candle making.  Apart from the obvious hazard of fire, there are many, many, other risks that until you encounter them you would never expect.
When you have collected as much of the equipment that you think you need to make progress, this is normally when you discover what is missing.  For prospective master candle makers out there I would suggest a visit to your local fire station during one of their open days and steal what you can.  Yes even the fire engine might come in useful, especially when I begin to explain the quick way to melt wax.
Vinamold was and is fantastic.  It does gives off a certain toxic plume of smoke when too much heat is applied but, using the wife method, as described earlier appropriate action can be taken when needed.  I wanted something that would allow me to re-create fine detail and so I ventured into the world of latex.
Yes, like the search for the film XXX with Mark Sinclair Vincent, a Google search for latex does return some interesting results and you even get some crossover into priests and nuns again and who could have imagined the practicality of skin tight rubber clothing?   You could certainly enjoy the outdoors a lot; probably horse riding I would think, because there seems to be an awful lot of whips about.
If you ever liked putting PVA glue on your skin, allowing it to dry and then peeling it off, you will enjoy Latex.  Some people use a three inch paint brush, take off all their garments so that they are naked with no clothes on and then apply fluorescent Liquid Latex Body Paint to their partner and themselves.  This has got nothing to do with candle making; however it is a diversion, which has sent many promising master candle makers to early retirement and or madness.

Suddenly the dangers highlighted by the great Ian Drury began to sink in.  Latex and drugs and rock and roll!

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